Published 1:00 am, Friday, August 14, 2009

The city's Democratic mayoral candidate, whose father is from Korea, says saratogian.com publishes reader comments in response to stories that are disparaging and racist. His campaign spokeswoman, Georgana Hanson, released pages of the comments in which unnamed contributors refer to Kim's ethnicity and notorious North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il.

The public safety commissioner has been called "Chairman Kim," "Dictator Kim," "Kim Il Ron," and more on the site. One person even stated that if elected, the Democrat would "change the name of our city to Pyongyang Springs and demand we call him 'Dear Leader'!"

"It's very disturbing," Kim said in an interview. Some of the remarks have been removed, but others remain, he said.

Hanson said the names directed at Kim and Asian-Americans "are culturally-biased and racist."

"These statements are offensive and degrading and beyond the scope of any acceptable level of political campaigning," she said. She asked the Saratogian to "improve its policing of the site to ensure that all racist and inappropriate statements are removed from the blog, and that they only allow comments posted by verified, identifiable individuals."

The Saratogian Managing Editor Barbara Lombardo said the newspaper "does not in any way condone or encourage comments that are racist or uncivil." Lombardo said she deletes a few comments a week, and the site has banned users due to repeat problems. "We do take this seriously," she said. "All newspapers are new at this, and we are trying to feel our way and be responsible."

Kim, 49, is challenging Republican Mayor Scott Johnson in the November race.